Nomination Forms

From the Desk of the Handicapper

A couple of items have come to my attention that need to be dealt with.

1.Riding down a grade

I have handed out a number of warning in regards to riders not participating in races in the correct grade either because they have not bothered to check if there has been a change or for some other reason.

Let me remind you that you are NOT allowed to ride down a grade without the prior consent of the Handicapper. This must be obtained prior to the event (note that the night before is most likely to late) as only exceptional circumstance will be considered on the day.

Please consider this a warning and in future riders will find their results DQ if they fail to ride in the correct grade.

2.Double Racing

It was pointed out to me that a rider decided that as they had not done well in their first race on a Tuesday night and decided to race again in a lower grade. This is not allowed and riders will face a multi race ban should it continue.

3.Hands off the bars

We have seen a couple of cases at the Crits recently where riders have taken both hands of the bars during the race and a single hand off the bars to celebrate a win. This is against the rules of the AVCC.

In simple terms you may take one hand off during the race to reach for food, drink, etc whiles the other must remain on the bars. Once a sprint (regardless if it’s at the finish line or during a race) you must keep both hands on the bar till the sprint is completed.

My opinion is that a sprint continues for at least 200m past the line.

This rule is for the safety of everyone and breaches will not be dealt with lightly.

Help Needed on Sunday: James will need 7 assistants and lead & trail car drivers. Marshals need to there by 8:15 for race briefing (otherwise race might not proceed).

Please contact James before the weekend if you are willing to assist.

RACE REPORTS:

Crit Report – 29nd January

We had good safe racing under coolish conditions with a breeze from the south up the front straight. I am pleased to report that there were no incidents. The biggest fields were 21 riders in B Grade and 22 in C Grade.

The only threatening attacks we saw during the program were in A Grade there were attacks early by Paul Connor and Brendan Byatt and again by Paul Connor and Paul Scherl but in the end it was Paul Angelatos who got off the front of A Grade with several laps to go and stayed away again to win decisively, though not effortlessly given the way he looked at the clock each lap. Graeme Allbon was second and Paul Connor third.

Several riders tried to attack in B Grade but no-one really got away and in the end it came down to a bunch sprint with Ben Davis jumping away in the bottom turns and coming into the straight with enough gap to hold on and win clearly. David Lander and Peter Horch filled the minor placings.

Charles Black won C Grade from Chris Kon and Benjamin Robey. Philip Walker seemed to do a fair amount of work on the front. Paul Morgan won D Grade from Daniel Kerr and Lee Sheather.

David Gunther got the win in E Grade from Jon Barnes and Belinda Chamberlain. I notice that David managed to hold a position in the first 4 throughout. F Grade was won by Gray McLaren from Mark Skimmings and Barbara Bayliss and Graham Lindsay got to the line first in G Grade from Robert Egan and James Meredith.

Thanks to all those who helped out, Henry Beaverstock keeping things on track as usual, Michael Blyth who kept the clock updated accurately and refused to yield despite complaints from riders and thanks to a lady from G Grade, Susan Belton I think, who walked the track sweeping the corners. Thank you and others who helped also.

Thanks to Steve Schwenke for refereeing.

Track Report – 31st January

The first event was a 12 lap scratch race. There was a bit of hedging, with a few of the riders saving themselves for the main event, which saw some new faces winning. For the Roadies – 1st Phill Coulton, 2nd Barbara Bayliss, 3rd Rosemary Robinson; A-Grade Trackies – 1st Paul Angelatos, 2nd Ben Davis, 3rd Jim Davey; B-Grade Trackies – 1st Jeff Culnane, 2nd Linda Stals, 3rd Graeme O’Neill.

For the main event this week we ran a new event for the VETS – The Keirin – normally a motorbike leads all the rides for 4 laps, slowly increasing the pace before pulling off leaving the riders to race for the final 2 laps. But due to the lack of a motorbike the A-Grade riders acted as the motorbike for each grade.

Anton and Jim paced the Roadies with a close finish for first and second - 1st Ben Robey, 2nd Phill Coulton, 3rd Rosemary Robinson. Paul and Ben Davis paced the B-Grade Trackies and the sprint started as soon as the pacers pulled off with a clear winner - 1st Linda Stals, 2nd Jeff Culnane, 3rd Graeme O’Neill. Ben Robey and Phill paced the A-Grade Trackies, this was the closest finish of all, with the 3 place getters crossing the line almost together - 1st Paul Angelatos, 2nd Ben Davis, 3rd Jim Davey.

The last event of the evening was the Italian Pursuit which saw the team of Phill, Rosemary, Pat, Linda, Anton and Jim the winners.

Next week the events will be – 12 Lap Scratch, 4 Lap Handi-cap, Team Derny and if there is still and energy an all-in 8 Lap Scratch.

Dairy Flat Points Race – 2nd February

A grade was dominated by this season's "master of the break" Paul Angelatos who attacked midway with Steve Jones blowing big time trying to go with him. Scott Sparkman also attacked the field to retain 2nd place and Steve Jones was third.

B grade saw the diamond tour brothers (Rob Diamond, David McCook) attacking solely and together but only ever managed to stay away for a lap at any time. "A" grade potential David McCook easily took out the win with diamond tour brother Rob taking out second on a count back with Roger "I forgot my number again" Northcote 3rd.

The C and D grade event had the most spectacular start with Grantley Butterfield destroying the field in a single line, and within two laps some riders were half a lap behind. Back from the leaders some very exciting sprinting was produced by Richard Gorrell and Lee Sheather which confused the marshal’s and entertained the spectators. Mid race Grantley (obviously needs promotion) cruised to the finish while a break of Sue Powell, David Rowe and Bruce Luckham established. Riding like pros the trio claimed 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places.

E grade also split up over the course with Craig Kentwell showing good form for 1st place. The sprints were very tight with Morris Dalla Costa, Angela Wren and Linda Stals claiming second to fourth.

F grade stayed pretty much together with Phillip Coulton nudging out an ever present Barbara Bayliss into 2nd place. Garry Moffitt just missed out in a few sprints for 3rd with Simeon Gilding and Jing Huang 4th and 5th.

G grade was won by James Meredith, who used his local knowledge of the "not so straight" finish line. James had some very tight finishes with Lindsay Graham, with Bruce "I have forgot my number, but you know who I am" Jones in double points for 3rd.

Dairy Flat saw the first tandem race with two bikes manned by Brandie O'Connor/Katharine Silk AKA the "girls" and Cameron Ermert/John Barlow AKA "the boys". The first lap sprint was clearly won by "the boys" and the judges initial thoughts were "the boys" will thrash "the girls". On lap two girl power kicked in to win the sprint, breakaway and win clearly by half a lap.

A Sprint every lap received complaints from one "A" grader, with other riders liking the format: The race marshal’s enjoyed the format. Complaint from E grade were made about the lack of neutral turns.